Albert Nahman Plumbing Heating And Cooling vs Star Rooter And Plumbing
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Star Rooter's 19 years of licensing versus Albert Nahman's 4 years represents a significant experience gap that matters for complex plumbing projects.
| Albert Nahman Plumbing Heating And Cooling | Star Rooter And Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.7 | ★ 4.7 |
| Years Licensed | 4 years | 19 years |
| License # | 1083634 | 884481 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Alameda, CA | San Lorenzo, CA |
| Website | albertnahmanplumbing.com | www.starrooter.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Albert Nahman Plumbing Heating And Cooling
Customers consistently praise Albert Nahman's rapid response times and technicians who provide thorough explanations about options and diagnostic processes without pressure.
Star Rooter And Plumbing
Star Rooter receives frequent mention for thorough inspection practices including crawlspace work and camera diagnostics, with customers emphasizing transparent pricing and efficient completion of major projects.
Key Takeaway: While both companies excel at responsiveness, Star Rooter's feedback emphasizes completing complex infrastructure projects efficiently within tight timeframes, whereas Albert Nahman's reviews focus more on diverse multi-trade service calls and ongoing maintenance relationships.
Customer Reviews
Albert Nahman Plumbing Heating And Cooling
Tara from Albert Nahman plumbing came out and did a excellent job installing a new toilet. She let the work area spotless and I was very impressed with her work. I would highly recommend this company
With their rapid response time, professionalism, know how and ability to communicate technical jargon in layman's terms, Albert Nahman Plumbing, Heating & Cooling stands head and shoulders above their...
Albert Nahman installed a brand new furnace in 2017 and they have maintained my unit to keep it in excellent running condition. They even offer a membership which I signed up for immediately. They are...
Star Rooter And Plumbing
We appreciated how quickly the plumbers were able to come to our home and ascertain the best course of action they should take. They were able to resolve the issue of the stoppage in the drain line wh...
Freddy was a great and a best work for me and family.
We had a great experience with Star Rooter! He took very good care of my parents bathrooms who are located in Castro Valley. Freddy and crew, were knowledgeable, great to work with and super polite. P...
Consider Albert Nahman Plumbing Heating And Cooling if...
- ✓ You need both plumbing and HVAC services and prefer coordinating with a single company rather than scheduling multiple contractors
- ✓ Your project involves standard residential work like water heater installation, furnace repair, drain clearing, or routine maintenance where four years of licensing provides adequate experience
- ✓ You value a company offering membership programs for ongoing maintenance across multiple home systems
- ✓ You're in Alameda proper and prefer a locally-based contractor with rapid response capabilities for routine service calls
Consider Star Rooter And Plumbing if...
- ✓ Your project involves major infrastructure work like complete home repiping, sewer lateral replacement, water line replacement from street to house, or municipal compliance projects requiring extensive experience
- ✓ You own an older home where hidden complications are likely and you want a contractor who has encountered nearly two decades of unexpected scenarios
- ✓ High owner involvement matters to you for accountability and continuity throughout a complex project
- ✓ You need plumbing-specific expertise for diagnosing complex drainage issues, foundation-related pipe problems, or navigating utility district requirements for sewer work
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For major projects, ask Star Rooter for references from similar infrastructure work completed in the past two years, and ask Albert Nahman how they handle complications beyond their four years of experience
- → Ask Albert Nahman whether plumbing, heating, and cooling work would be handled by specialized technicians or the same crew, and how they coordinate multi-trade projects
- → If your project involves municipal permits or utility district compliance, ask both companies about their specific experience navigating those requirements in your city
- → Ask both companies how long their current crew has been together and what their typical project timeline looks like for your specific type of work
The Bottom Line
For major plumbing projects—sewer laterals, whole-house repiping, water line replacements, or work involving municipal compliance—Star Rooter's 19 years of licensing and plumbing specialization make it the stronger choice. The experience gap is substantial and matters when complications arise in older homes or complex infrastructure work. Choose Albert Nahman if you have straightforward plumbing needs combined with heating or cooling work, or if you prefer a multi-trade contractor for routine maintenance across systems. Both companies carry proper insurance and demonstrate responsiveness, but Star Rooter's veteran status and high owner involvement provide significantly more experience depth for homeowners facing serious plumbing challenges.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For routine work like toilet repairs, drain clearing, or standard water heater installations, both companies demonstrate competence based on customer feedback. The experience gap becomes critical when complications arise—older homes often reveal unexpected issues like corroded galvanized pipes, unusual configurations, or code violations that veteran contractors have seen repeatedly. If your home was built before 1980 or you're unsure what's behind the walls, Star Rooter's experience provides more insurance against surprises.
If you genuinely need both plumbing and HVAC work, Albert Nahman's multi-trade capability offers real convenience and potentially better coordination. However, don't let the convenience factor drive your decision if your primary need is complex plumbing work. For major plumbing projects, Star Rooter's specialized focus and veteran experience likely outweigh the convenience of one-stop shopping.
High owner involvement typically means the owner is directly overseeing estimates, checking in during major projects, and maintaining accountability for work quality. For complex projects like sewer lateral replacements or whole-house repiping, this provides continuity and a single point of contact who understands your entire project history. For simple service calls, this distinction matters less.
Customer feedback suggests both companies deliver on rapid response for emergencies and routine calls. The similarity here is genuine—both appear to prioritize scheduling flexibility and quick availability. The choice between them should focus on project complexity and specialization rather than responsiveness, where they're comparably strong.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top plumbing contractors in Alameda.
Other Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparisons
Service Champions
★ 4.9
Star Rooter And Plumbing
★ 4.7
Albert Nahman Plumbing Heating And Cooling
★ 4.7
Service Champions
★ 4.9
Performance Plus Plumbing
★ 4.9
Star Rooter And Plumbing
★ 4.7
Albert Nahman Plumbing Heating And Cooling
★ 4.7
Superior Mechanical Services
★ 4.8
How We Compare Contractors
License Verification
All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.
Review Analysis
Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.
Detailed Comparison
We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.
Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.
- Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
- Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
- Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
- Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.
Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.
Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 11, 2026.
This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.
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